Targeting the viral Achilles' heel: recognition of 5'-triphosphate RNA in innate anti-viral defence.

Abstract

Some RNA virus genomes bear 5'-triphosphates, which can be recognized in the cytoplasm of infected cells by host proteins that mediate anti-viral immunity. Both the innate sensor RIG-I and the interferon-induced IFIT proteins bind to 5'-triphosphate viral RNAs. RIG-I signals for induction of interferons during RNA virus infection while IFITs sequester viral RNAs to exert an anti-viral effect. Notably, the structures of these proteins reveal both similarities and differences, which are suggestive of independent evolution towards ligand binding. 5'-triphosphates, which are absent from most RNAs in the cytosol of uninfected cells, are thus a marker of virus infection that is targeted by the innate immune system for both induction and execution of the anti-viral response.

• Authors: Jan Rehwinkel, Caetano Reis e Sousa
• Journal: Current opinion in microbiology (Curr Opin Microbiol) Vol. 16 Issue 4 Pg. 485-92 (Aug 2013) ISSN: 1879-0364 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 23707340 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Review)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Carrier Proteins
• RNA, Viral
• RNA-Binding Proteins
• DEAD-box RNA Helicases

Topics

• Animals
• Carrier Proteins
• DEAD-box RNA Helicases
• Humans
• Immunity, Innate
• RNA Viruses (immunology)
• RNA, Viral (immunology, metabolism)
• RNA-Binding Proteins (metabolism)